Women's Hoops to Face Heartland Upper Echelon This Weekend

Published On: Nov 28 2012 09:13:29 PM CST

ABILENE, Texas -

McMurry University's women's basketball team – fresh off its first win as an NCAA Division II member last weekend – will play its first games as members of the Heartland Conference this weekend. The War Hawks (1-5) will travel to Newman University (Wichita, Kansas) on Thursday (5:30 p.m.) and at the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith on Saturday (2 p.m.)

With these two road games, McM's women's squad will have played its first eight games of the 2012-13 season on the road.

Newman is 2-4 overall, but snapped a four-game losing streak last Saturday by defeating Colorado School of Mines, 66-54, in its second game of the Regis Classic in Denver, Colo.

The Jets' have received their thrust this season from the tandem of Kiane Flannagan and Chynna Rumelb. Flannagan tops the team in scoring at 17.0 points per game, while also grabbing 4.8 rebounds per game.

Teammate Rumelb averages 10.2 p.p.g. and 4.8 r.p.g.

The UA-Ft. Smith squad is 2-2 thus far in 2012-13. UAFS went 1-1 in its own Lady Lion Thanksgiving Classic last weekend, defeating Huston-Tillotson (88-51) and losing to Rogers State (81-73).

(UAFS will play St. Edward's University on Thursday, prior to its bout versus McMurry on Saturday).

The Lady Lions have four players currently averaging in double-digit scoring on the year.

Chauntel Terry tops the team at 14.0 p.p.g., but missed both games last weekend. Katie BenAmor checks in at 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game for the Lady Lions.

Angi Ramey has had a balanced season, averaging 11.0 points and 9.0 boards per game, while also producing 2.7 blocks per contest. Ramey is shooting 58 percent (18-31) from the field and has come off the UAFS bench in every game, thus far

Porsha Donnerson rounds out the quartet of double-figure scorers with a 10.5 p.p.g. average for UA-Ft. Smith. Donnerson also has the Lions' share of rebounds at 10.3 caroms per game.

After winning its first contest of the year last Saturday – also the 100th career coaching victory for McM head coach Dr. Veronica Snow – the War Hawks would like nothing better than to create a win streak beginning with Newman.

McM has received its scoring from all quarters, with no players averaging in double figures, but four at better than 6.5 points per game. Junior Keshia Collins tops the team at 9.3 p.p.g. to go along with her 6.0 rebounds per game. She also has a team-leading 20 steals.

Freshman inside player Ana Dominguez gives Snow 7.7 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds per game, as well. Dominguez has been a defensive stalwart, with 2.2 blocks per game.

Senior point guard Rikeita Thomas' 7.3 p.p.g ranks third on the squad, with freshman Claire Bruffey at 6.7 p.p.g. in fourth.

If the McM team wants to reverse its fortunes, it will need to cut down on its mistakes. The War Hawks have averaged better than 22 turnovers per game, 5.3 more miscues per game than their foes.

Newman and UA-Ft. Smith were the top two finishers, respectively, in last season's Heartland Conference standings.

Information for this story provided by McMurry Sports Information.

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